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High speed crash head wins appeal | High speed crash head wins appeal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former head teacher who was banned from teaching after a high-speed crash has won his appeal at the High Court. | A former head teacher who was banned from teaching after a high-speed crash has won his appeal at the High Court. |
Paul Davies, 52, who worked at Cwmdare primary in the Cynon Valley, was jailed for dangerous driving last year for a crash which left a man in a wheelchair. | Paul Davies, 52, who worked at Cwmdare primary in the Cynon Valley, was jailed for dangerous driving last year for a crash which left a man in a wheelchair. |
He was later banned from teaching for at least two years by the General Teaching Council for Wales and sacked. | He was later banned from teaching for at least two years by the General Teaching Council for Wales and sacked. |
Mr Justice Blair overturned the prohibition order and replaced it with a seven-month suspension from teaching. | Mr Justice Blair overturned the prohibition order and replaced it with a seven-month suspension from teaching. |
The judge at the High Court in London said, though his behaviour was serious, it was not incompatible with him continuing to be a registered teacher. | The judge at the High Court in London said, though his behaviour was serious, it was not incompatible with him continuing to be a registered teacher. |
The seven-month suspension was a "serious penalty for a teacher, particularly a head teacher", Mr Justice Blair added. | |
Last year, Mr Davies was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for two years for the May 2006 head-on crash on the A465 heads of the valleys road, which forced motorist Kelvin Palmer to spend 10 months in hospital. | Last year, Mr Davies was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for two years for the May 2006 head-on crash on the A465 heads of the valleys road, which forced motorist Kelvin Palmer to spend 10 months in hospital. |
Kelvin Palmer said the decision was "absurd" | |
Mr Davies's driving in wet and windy conditions was described as "lunatic" and as having the "mentality of a boy racer," by the judge during sentencing at Newport Crown Court. | Mr Davies's driving in wet and windy conditions was described as "lunatic" and as having the "mentality of a boy racer," by the judge during sentencing at Newport Crown Court. |
Mr Palmer, who is now in a wheelchair and forced to live in a respite care centre 30 miles from his home, reacted angrily to the High Court decision. | |
"It's patently absurd isn't it?" he said. | |
"This is another example of the justice system not working. | |
"I haven't returned home, I can't return home. | |
"He has been allowed back into teaching so he will go back and carry on." | |
Mr Davies was initially reinstated to his job as head teacher of Cwmdare in January, following his early release from jail last September. | |
'Absolutely delighted' | |
But the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) ruled a month later that he had brought the profession into disrepute and struck him off the teaching register for at least two years. | But the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) ruled a month later that he had brought the profession into disrepute and struck him off the teaching register for at least two years. |
Cwmdare school governing body disciplinary panel then made the decision to dismiss him in March. | Cwmdare school governing body disciplinary panel then made the decision to dismiss him in March. |
At the time, it said the decision remained subject to appeal proceedings. | At the time, it said the decision remained subject to appeal proceedings. |
In his ruling, Mr Justice Blair said the GTCW's decision was flawed by a failure to take into account the school governing body's willingness to take Mr Davies back. | |
Mr Davies issued a statement through the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and said he was "absolutely delighted" his appeal had been successful. | |
"This does not mean that I have forgotten the serious injury caused to Mr Palmer by the accident in May of 2006," he added. | |
A spokesperson for the NAHT said the decision was "significant both for Mr Davies and all other registered teachers in Wales". | |
Whether or not Mr Davies now gets his job back as the primary school's headteacher will depend on the governors. | |
Mike Keating, director of education and lifelong learning at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said they had noted the decision of the court. | |
"The appropriate Rhondda Cynon Taf Council departments will now work with the governing body at Cwmdare to determine what steps should now follow today's court decision." |